2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Volvo XC40 was a paragon of traditional SUV styling. It boasted a tall, flat roof and an upright rear hatch, which emphasized its utility. The XC40 adhered closely to the styling cues of the Volvo family, featuring “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a straightforward oval grille. A distinctive option for gasoline models was the white contrasting roof, which lent the vehicle a slightly retro aesthetic.

In contrast, the XC40 Recharge featured a blanked-off grille and a few exclusive elements like “Recharge” badging, model-specific alloy wheels, a gloss-black roof, and mirror caps. Its bespoke Sage Green Metallic color and a discreet charging port where the fuel filler normally would be made the Recharge stand out without overstating its electric nature.

Underpinning the XC40 was Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform, shared with the Polestar 2 electric car. This versatile platform was designed to accommodate both gasoline and electric powertrains seamlessly. The interior of the XC40 adhered to Volvo’s minimalist design philosophy, combining Nappa leather and Nubuck textile for an upscale touch. Real metal trim accentuated the high-quality materials used throughout the cabin, creating an uncluttered and harmonious ambiance.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, on the other hand, opted for a more timeless design ethos. While many contemporary SUVs leaned towards an "angry" appearance with aggressive lines, the GLC employed soft curves and rounded edges to achieve a stylish yet understated exterior. Its menacing LED headlights added a touch of modern aggression, but overall, the vehicle's design exuded elegance rather than hostility. The front borrowed heavily from the Mercedes-Benz sedans, offering a dramatic stance akin to a raised C-Class or even an E-Class sedan.

The GLC's cabin was nothing short of an automotive masterpiece. The flowing dashboard lines and rounded edges of the floating center touchscreen demonstrated Mercedes-Benz's commitment to luxury and sophistication. Despite the brand's shift towards larger screens and minimalism, the 2021 GLC retained a design aesthetic that was both functional and beautiful, setting a benchmark for compact luxury SUV cabins.

The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and the fastback “coupe” body styles. While the latter had an alluring aesthetic, it compromised on cargo space, making the traditional SUV format more practical.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a distinctive three-tiered powertrain lineup. The base FWD T4 model featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 221-pound feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Upgrading to the AWD T5 model provided 248 horsepower and 258-pound feet of torque, offering stronger performance without sacrificing fuel efficiency.

The electric XC40 Recharge stood out with a dual electric motor configuration, providing AWD and generating a total of 402 horsepower and 486-pound feet of torque. This model included a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, of which 75 kWh was usable. Volvo claimed the Recharge could sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds, outpacing some of its competitors like the Tesla Model Y Long Range and Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium. Yet, the XC40 Recharge prioritized comfort and luxury over raw speed and performance, offering an exceptionally smooth ride even on rough roads.

In comparison, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 273-pound feet of torque, coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Available in both rear-wheel drive and 4MATIC AWD, the GLC 300 delivered a balanced and responsive driving experience. With dynamic driving modes like Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, the GLC offered versatility to match various driving preferences, though many found the default Comfort mode sufficiently powerful for everyday driving.

For those seeking higher performance, the AMG GLC 43 and AMG GLC 63 variants featured even more potent powertrains. The AMG GLC 43's twin-turbocharged V6 produced 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC 63, equipped with a twin-turbo V8, offered an impressive 469 horsepower. The GLC 63 S variant took things up a notch with 503 horsepower, delivering sports car-like performance.

When it came to interior and cargo space, the Volvo XC40 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class each had their strengths and shortcomings. Volvo claimed the XC40 Recharge offered the same passenger and cargo space as its gasoline counterparts. However, the XC40 lagged behind competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E in terms of interior dimensions. It offered less legroom and headroom, and its cargo space was also limited. However, Volvo’s clever storage solutions, including a removable trash bin in the center console and large door bins due to the repositioned Harman Kardon audio system speakers, mitigated some of these shortcomings.

The gas-powered XC40s were more competitive regarding interior space, though they fell short compared to some rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo also included useful features like a well-shaped storage cubby ahead of the shifter, an optional wireless charging pad, and a standard single USB-C port. Unfortunately, passengers in the second row had no phone-charging options.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC excelled in cargo capacity. With the rear seats folded, the conventional GLC 300 provided 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space, while the GLC Coupe version offered 49.4 cubic feet. With the seats up, the SUV's cargo volume was 19.4 cubic feet, compared to the Coupe’s 17.6 cubic feet. While the GLC Coupe lacked in cargo space compared to its conventional sibling and other competitors, the standard GLC ranked mid-pack, with the BMW X3 standing out with its 62.7 cubic feet of cargo space.

The GLC featured a generously sized center console, deep door pockets, and customizable cupholders covered by a retractable wood panel, making it practical for everyday use. Rear-seat space in the GLC was also commendable, with adequate legroom and headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe’s sloping roofline reduced headroom.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge introduced the advanced Android Automotive OS infotainment system, first seen on the Polestar 2. This setup integrated Google apps for voice control, navigation, and other features, making it user-friendly for Android phone users. The Recharge also supported OTA updates for software-related vehicle functions, enabling automatic updates and improvements. Its infotainment system featured a standard 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, known for their high-quality graphics and intuitive layouts. Gasoline models still used the previous infotainment system but offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity.

In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class came with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system. This system featured a 10.25-inch central touchscreen, a touch controller on the center console, and a sophisticated voice-control system capable of understanding complex commands. Drivers could use the touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel to navigate the digital instrument panel and the main infotainment screen. Despite a learning curve, the MBUX system was praised for its seamless and intuitive operation.

The GLC also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which displayed clearly on the touchscreen. Switching between the vehicle’s radio and smartphone apps required navigating through the home screen, which was slightly cumbersome but manageable.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 excelled in safety ratings and equipment. The gasoline model earned the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, and hill-descent control. Optional safety features encompassed traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, a driver alertness monitor, run-off road mitigation, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist. The Recharge model came with Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC also came with an impressive array of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. Optional features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning. However, the parking and proximity sensors were noted for being overly sensitive, sometimes offering false positives.